US20130244537A1 - Flywheel motor and gyroscopic clutch - Google Patents
Flywheel motor and gyroscopic clutch Download PDFInfo
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- US20130244537A1 US20130244537A1 US13/833,615 US201313833615A US2013244537A1 US 20130244537 A1 US20130244537 A1 US 20130244537A1 US 201313833615 A US201313833615 A US 201313833615A US 2013244537 A1 US2013244537 A1 US 2013244537A1
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- Prior art keywords
- flywheel
- housing
- vehicle
- motor
- disk
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63H—TOYS, e.g. TOPS, DOLLS, HOOPS OR BUILDING BLOCKS
- A63H29/00—Drive mechanisms for toys in general
- A63H29/20—Flywheel driving mechanisms
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63H—TOYS, e.g. TOPS, DOLLS, HOOPS OR BUILDING BLOCKS
- A63H17/00—Toy vehicles, e.g. with self-drive; ; Cranes, winches or the like; Accessories therefor
- A63H17/26—Details; Accessories
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63H—TOYS, e.g. TOPS, DOLLS, HOOPS OR BUILDING BLOCKS
- A63H17/00—Toy vehicles, e.g. with self-drive; ; Cranes, winches or the like; Accessories therefor
- A63H17/26—Details; Accessories
- A63H17/42—Automatic stopping or braking arrangements
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F03—MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS; WIND, SPRING, OR WEIGHT MOTORS; PRODUCING MECHANICAL POWER OR A REACTIVE PROPULSIVE THRUST, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F03G—SPRING, WEIGHT, INERTIA OR LIKE MOTORS; MECHANICAL-POWER PRODUCING DEVICES OR MECHANISMS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR OR USING ENERGY SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F03G3/00—Other motors, e.g. gravity or inertia motors
- F03G3/08—Other motors, e.g. gravity or inertia motors using flywheels
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- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
- Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
- Y10T74/00—Machine element or mechanism
- Y10T74/21—Elements
- Y10T74/2117—Power generating-type flywheel
- Y10T74/2119—Structural detail, e.g., material, configuration, superconductor, discs, laminated, etc.
Definitions
- Flywheel equipped motors have been long known in the toy industry. Toy vehicles using commonly referred to friction motors are shown, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,538,205; 3,650,067; 3,932,957 and 4,631,041.
- the flywheel is geared to an external wheel which can be accelerated by pushing or driving the vehicle to accelerate the flywheel, after which the flywheel drives the external wheel.
- Still other flywheel motors used in toys can be accelerated by other means, such as pull cords as shown, for example in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,229,413 and 3,932,957.
- Still other toy vehicles have been designed to skid out from a direction of movement as a stunt.
- These include, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,984,939; 4,582,171; 4,850,031; 6,565,409.
- a flywheel motor to provide propulsion and a skid to a toy vehicle.
- Such a motor also could be useful to provide multiple actions in other types of toys including tops, dolls and figures, which have also previously employed flywheel motors.
- a toy vehicle has a variable inertia flywheel motor.
- Mechanical means are provided for transferring solely within the vehicle, angular momentum from the flywheel to the vehicle, when the flywheel has slowed sufficiently after propelling the vehicle, to cause the vehicle to spin in the direction of rotation of the flywheel at the end of travel of the vehicle.
- FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the top, front and right side of a toy vehicle, the other side of the vehicle being a mirror image;
- FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the vehicle of FIG. 1 ;
- FIG. 3 is a top view with the body of the vehicle pivoted up at the front end from the chassis exposing the top of the friction motor/flywheel drive assembly;
- FIG. 4 is a side view of the vehicle with the friction motor/flywheel drive assembly removed;
- FIG. 5 is a side view of the friction motor/flywheel drive assembly removed from the chassis and body of the vehicle;
- FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the friction motor/flywheel drive assembly of FIG. 5 inverted to show its bottom side;
- FIG. 7 is a generally plan view of the inner, downward facing side of the upper part of the friction motor/flywheel drive assembly housing;
- FIG. 8 is a generally plan view of the inner, upward facing side of the lower part of the friction motor/flywheel drive assembly housing;
- FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the bent wire member or catch of the gyroscopic clutch of the friction motor/flywheel drive assembly
- FIG. 10 is a top plan view of the variable inertia flywheel of the motor with the pivotally mounted weight arms;
- FIG. 11 is a bottom plan view of the variable inertia flywheel of FIG. 10 showing the bottom side of the flywheel disk;
- FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the toy vehicle being held with the hood pivotally depressed at the front end to disengage the bent wire member or catch of the gyroscopic clutch from the flywheel to permit acceleration of the flywheel.
- a toy vehicle 10 includes a pair of front wheels 12 mounted to a front axle 13 for free rotation on or with the axle in the vehicle 10 and a pair of rear wheels 14 mounted on a rear axle 15 in the vehicle 10 .
- a bevel gear 16 ( FIG. 4 ) is fixed to the rear axle 15 to rotate with the rear axle 15 and pair of rear wheels 14 .
- Toy vehicle 10 is preferably of a chassis 18 and body 20 construction but paired shells and other monocoque constructions might be used.
- the front end of the body 20 is preferably hinged to the front end of the chassis 18 by a pin 24 as shown in FIG. 4 but other, conventional attachments, fixed or releasable or removable, might be used.
- a tab 18 a at the rear end of the chassis 18 remote from hinge pin 24 is releasably received in a slot 20 a on the rear of the body 20 to releasably secure the rear ends together.
- body 20 include a hood 22 secured by a hinge at 21 ( FIG. 3 ) to a remainder 26 of the body 20 so as to pivot or at least flex downward at its forward end.
- a tab 22 a projects downwardly and inwardly from the inner side of the hood 22 towards the chassis 18 .
- Tab 22 a is used to operate a clutch of an inertia motor with variable inertia flywheel, which is indicated generally at 30 in FIGS. 3 and 4 - 6 and is supported on the chassis 18 beneath the body 20 .
- a variable inertia flywheel motor 30 includes a housing 32 with mating top 32 a and bottom 32 b parts. Referring to FIGS. 5-7 and 9 , a bent wire member 40 is pivotally supported by the housing 32 .
- the transmission is comprised of a train of gears 36 , 38 , 54 that rotatably connect the road contacting rear wheels 14 with the flywheel of the motor 30 .
- Wire member 40 is basically a crank shaped lever with front and rear, generally parallel arms 42 a, 42 b connected by a transverse portion 42 c that is movably secured with the housing 32 by being pivotally captured between the housing parts 32 a, 32 b.
- the front arm 42 a extends forwardly/outwardly from the transverse portion 42 c ( FIGS.
- the front arm 42 a preferably engages a bias member in the form of a length of spring wire 48 ( FIGS. 5 , 6 and 8 ) preferably supported transversely by the housing 32 preferably between the parts 32 a, 32 b, so as to extend beneath the front arm 42 a and bias it upward. This, in turn, biases the hook 42 d downward and deeper into the housing 32 .
- the bent wire member 40 is supported by and through the housing 32 for movement into and away from engagement with a flywheel in the housing 32 .
- the transmission in the form of gear train 36 , 38 , 54 connects the rear wheels 14 through the rear axle 15 and rear axle bevel gear 16 (see FIG. 4 ) with the flywheel of the motor 30 .
- the exemplary gear train includes two sets of fixedly paired gears supported between the housing parts 32 a, 32 b on each of two vertical, parallel axles.
- Rear axle bevel gear 16 meshes with a bevel gear 36 a ( FIG. 6 ) that is paired coaxially with a larger diameter spur gear 36 b ( FIG. 8 ).
- Spur gear 36 b meshes with a smaller pinion 38 a ( FIG.
- Spur gear 38 b meshes with a pinion 54 fixed on a vertical shaft 56 , which constitutes the center axle of a flywheel indicated generally at 50 in FIG. 8 .
- the flywheel 50 is an assembly and includes a relatively weighty disk 52 (preferably metal) supported within the housing 32 for horizontal rotation with the vertical shaft 56 and a protruding pivot 64 coaxial with shaft 56 (see FIG. 11 ) extending downwardly from the bottom facing side of the disk 52 .
- a hemispherical well 33 ( FIGS. 2 and 6 ) is provided projecting from the bottom facing side of the bottom housing part 32 b to receive the pivot 64 . It also projects through an opening 18 b (see FIG. 4 ) in the chassis 18 ( FIG. 2 ) and serves to secure the motor 30 from lateral movement with respect to the chassis 18 .
- the motor housing 32 is fixedly attached to the remainder of the vehicle 10 by conventional means such as screws or rivets but may also be immovably fixed by being fitted into a suitable configured compartment between the body and chassis.
- a plurality, preferably a diametrically opposed pair of elements 58 are pivotally mounted to the disk 52 for generally radial movement with respect to the central axis of flywheel 50 and disk 52 .
- Each element 58 is preferably a weight 58 that include an arcuate arm 58 a, having an inner end that is most proximal to the center of the disk 52 and that is pivotally secured to the disk 52 by suitably means such as pin 59 .
- each arm 58 a distal from the pivot pin 59 , supports a further weight in the form of an upward extending dog 58 b.
- the dogs 58 b and the arms 58 a that support them also generally weighty, preferably made of metal, and are generally radially movable with respect to the rotational axis of the disk 52 , which is the central axis of shaft 56 and pivot 64 .
- Each arm 58 a is biased radially inwardly towards the shaft 56 by a coil torsion spring hidden in the figures but located beneath each arm 58 a and engaged at opposing ends with the disk 52 and the arm 58 a.
- Each weight element 58 is configured so that at sufficiently high rotational speeds of the disk 52 , the centrifugal force of each weight 58 overcomes the bias of its spring and each arm 58 a pivots radially outwardly against the spring bias to move the dog 58 b radially outwardly from an initial, at rest position maintained by the upper arm 58 a in solid FIG. 10 , where it will be engaged by the hook 42 d of the bent wire member 40 , to an extended, more radially outward position (held by the arm marked 58 a ′ in phantom in the same figure), where the dog 58 b is located radially outwardly from the hook 42 d to avoid engagement with the hook 42 d.
- Posts 62 ( FIG.
- elements/weights 58 are the gyroscopic elements of the clutch varying the moment of inertia of the flywheel 50 with their movement.
- the dogs 58 b are stops releasably engaging with the bent wire member 40 , which is the clutch actuator.
- the vehicle 10 is operated as follows. Referring to FIG. 12 , the vehicle body 20 is held with the hood 22 inwardly depressed at the front end and the vehicle 10 pushed, preferably repeatedly, across a support surface engaged by at least the rear wheels 14 to accelerate rotation of the flywheel disk 52 .
- the tab 22 a beneath the hood 22 presses against the front arm 42 a of the bent wire member 42 , overcoming the bias of spring 48 and pivoting the front arm portion 42 a down, which pivots the rear arm portion 42 b upward and the hook 42 d away from the upper side of the flywheel disk 52 and above the dogs 58 b. This permits the flywheel 50 to be accelerated without interference from the bent wire member 42 .
- the gears and flywheel 50 act like a conventional friction/flywheel motor.
- the vehicle 10 is released and is propelled along a generally linear path of travel by the continued rotation of the flywheel 50 driving the rear wheels 14 .
- the flywheel disk 52 looses speed and the arms 58 a, which were outwardly extended by the acceleration, move inward.
- the vehicle 10 will continue to move along the path of travel as the rear wheels 14 are rotated by the rotating flywheel 50 until one of the weight arms 58 a moves sufficiently radially inwardly that its dog 58 b engages the hook 42 d.
- This engagement abruptly stops rotation of the flywheel disk 52 and of the rear wheel(s) 14 geared with the flywheel 50 and causes the angular momentum and energy remaining in the flywheel 50 at the time of engagement to be transferred entirely within the vehicle 10 to the remainder of the vehicle 10 (i.e. the chassis 18 and body 20 ) causing the vehicle to spin briefly in the rotational direction in which the flywheel 50 was rotating when stopped as the vehicle 10 skids to a halt on the path of travel.
- the bent wire member 40 being pivotally fixed in the housing 32 , is itself fixedly connected to the chassis 18 through the housing 32 .
- Engaging one of the dogs 58 b of the flywheel assembly 50 is the mechanical means by which remaining angular momentum and energy in the flywheel 50 is transferred within the vehicle from the flywheel 50 through the bent wire member 40 to the vehicle 10 .
- the moveable weight elements selectively engageable by the bent wire member 40 which is pivotally secured in the housing 32 , constitute the means for transferring any rotational energy and momentum remaining in the flywheel 50 at engagement by member 40 to the motor housing 32 .
- variable inertia flywheel motor used for propulsion
- springs elastic or resilient members might be used to bias stops arms 58 a.
- other mechanical arrangements can be provided between the gyroscope 50 and the motor housing 32 , like the provision of a spring biased catch supported through the housing opposite the disk 52 and dogs 58 b with the flywheel 50 at rest.
- the catch might be raised by a wedge, cam or the like or also by a separate pivotally mounted lever or pivoted away from the disk by the same or similar mechanical members.
- support arms 58 a stop elements 58 b or equivalent might be mounted of weight members for generally radial movement along slots in or through the disk of the flywheel, biased radially inwardly along the slot by different types of bias members.
- the toy 10 might additionally be provided with a pull cord for acceleration of the flywheel.
- the invention can be incorporated into a flywheel spun about a transverse horizontal axis that is provided sometimes provided in two wheeled toy vehicles such as bikes and motorcycles to stabilize such vehicles. Depending upon where such flywheel is installed and the direction it is spun, the vehicle can be made to flip end, stop short or perform other stunts.
- variable inertial flywheel motor 50 disclosed in the toy vehicle 10 is centered laterally in the vehicle, it need not be so located. Locating a flywheel off center may provide other unusual stunt capabilities and responses. As mentioned initially, this variable inertia flywheel motor may be used in other toys including but not limited to tops, dolls and other figures.
Abstract
Description
- This application is related to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/611,794 filed Mar. 16, 2012 and incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
- Flywheel equipped motors, have been long known in the toy industry. Toy vehicles using commonly referred to friction motors are shown, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,538,205; 3,650,067; 3,932,957 and 4,631,041. The flywheel is geared to an external wheel which can be accelerated by pushing or driving the vehicle to accelerate the flywheel, after which the flywheel drives the external wheel. Still other flywheel motors used in toys can be accelerated by other means, such as pull cords as shown, for example in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,229,413 and 3,932,957.
- Still other toy vehicles have been designed to skid out from a direction of movement as a stunt. These include, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,984,939; 4,582,171; 4,850,031; 6,565,409. Heretofore it has been unknown how to utilize a flywheel motor to provide propulsion and a skid to a toy vehicle. Such a motor also could be useful to provide multiple actions in other types of toys including tops, dolls and figures, which have also previously employed flywheel motors.
- A toy vehicle has a variable inertia flywheel motor. Mechanical means are provided for transferring solely within the vehicle, angular momentum from the flywheel to the vehicle, when the flywheel has slowed sufficiently after propelling the vehicle, to cause the vehicle to spin in the direction of rotation of the flywheel at the end of travel of the vehicle.
- The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention, will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawings embodiments which are presently preferred. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.
-
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the top, front and right side of a toy vehicle, the other side of the vehicle being a mirror image; -
FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the vehicle ofFIG. 1 ; -
FIG. 3 is a top view with the body of the vehicle pivoted up at the front end from the chassis exposing the top of the friction motor/flywheel drive assembly; -
FIG. 4 is a side view of the vehicle with the friction motor/flywheel drive assembly removed; -
FIG. 5 is a side view of the friction motor/flywheel drive assembly removed from the chassis and body of the vehicle; -
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the friction motor/flywheel drive assembly ofFIG. 5 inverted to show its bottom side; -
FIG. 7 is a generally plan view of the inner, downward facing side of the upper part of the friction motor/flywheel drive assembly housing; -
FIG. 8 is a generally plan view of the inner, upward facing side of the lower part of the friction motor/flywheel drive assembly housing; -
FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the bent wire member or catch of the gyroscopic clutch of the friction motor/flywheel drive assembly; -
FIG. 10 is a top plan view of the variable inertia flywheel of the motor with the pivotally mounted weight arms; -
FIG. 11 is a bottom plan view of the variable inertia flywheel ofFIG. 10 showing the bottom side of the flywheel disk; and -
FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the toy vehicle being held with the hood pivotally depressed at the front end to disengage the bent wire member or catch of the gyroscopic clutch from the flywheel to permit acceleration of the flywheel. - Certain terminology is used in the following description for convenience only and is not limiting. The words “right,” “left,” “lower” and “upper” designate directions in the drawings to which reference is made. The words “inwardly” and “outwardly” refer to directions toward and away from, respectively, the geometric center of the stated component and designated parts thereof. The terminology includes the words above specifically mentioned, derivatives thereof and words of similar import.
- Referring variously to
FIGS. 1 through 3 , atoy vehicle 10 according to the present invention includes a pair offront wheels 12 mounted to afront axle 13 for free rotation on or with the axle in thevehicle 10 and a pair ofrear wheels 14 mounted on arear axle 15 in thevehicle 10. A bevel gear 16 (FIG. 4 ) is fixed to therear axle 15 to rotate with therear axle 15 and pair ofrear wheels 14.Toy vehicle 10 is preferably of achassis 18 andbody 20 construction but paired shells and other monocoque constructions might be used. The front end of thebody 20 is preferably hinged to the front end of thechassis 18 by apin 24 as shown inFIG. 4 but other, conventional attachments, fixed or releasable or removable, might be used. Atab 18 a at the rear end of thechassis 18 remote fromhinge pin 24 is releasably received in aslot 20 a on the rear of thebody 20 to releasably secure the rear ends together. - Referring to
FIGS. 1 , 3 and 4,body 20 include ahood 22 secured by a hinge at 21 (FIG. 3 ) to aremainder 26 of thebody 20 so as to pivot or at least flex downward at its forward end. Referring toFIGS. 3-4 , atab 22 a projects downwardly and inwardly from the inner side of thehood 22 towards thechassis 18.Tab 22 a is used to operate a clutch of an inertia motor with variable inertia flywheel, which is indicated generally at 30 in FIGS. 3 and 4-6 and is supported on thechassis 18 beneath thebody 20. - A variable
inertia flywheel motor 30 includes ahousing 32 withmating top 32 a andbottom 32 b parts. Referring toFIGS. 5-7 and 9, abent wire member 40 is pivotally supported by thehousing 32. The transmission is comprised of a train ofgears rear wheels 14 with the flywheel of themotor 30.Wire member 40 is basically a crank shaped lever with front and rear, generallyparallel arms transverse portion 42 c that is movably secured with thehousing 32 by being pivotally captured between thehousing parts front arm 42 a extends forwardly/outwardly from thetransverse portion 42 c (FIGS. 6 and 7 ) along the right side of themotor housing 32 while therear arm 42 b extends inwardly/rearwardly fromportion 42 c along the left side of thehousing 32. An innermost free end of therear arm 42 b is most proximal to the flywheel and is bent down, transversely to thearm 42 b, and to a plane generally formed by portions 42 a-42 c, to form ahook 42 d (FIG. 9 ). Theinnermost end 44 ofarm 42 b withhook 42 d is extended into thehousing 32 through an opening in thetop part 32 a (FIG. 3 ) and is movable up and down through that opening. Thefront arm 42 a preferably engages a bias member in the form of a length of spring wire 48 (FIGS. 5 , 6 and 8) preferably supported transversely by thehousing 32 preferably between theparts front arm 42 a and bias it upward. This, in turn, biases thehook 42 d downward and deeper into thehousing 32. In this way, thebent wire member 40 is supported by and through thehousing 32 for movement into and away from engagement with a flywheel in thehousing 32. - Referring primarily to
FIGS. 6 , 7 and 8, the transmission in the form ofgear train rear wheels 14 through therear axle 15 and rear axle bevel gear 16 (seeFIG. 4 ) with the flywheel of themotor 30. More particularly, the exemplary gear train includes two sets of fixedly paired gears supported between thehousing parts bevel gear 36 a (FIG. 6 ) that is paired coaxially with a largerdiameter spur gear 36 b (FIG. 8 ).Spur gear 36 b meshes with asmaller pinion 38 a (FIG. 9 ) that is paired coaxially with a muchlarger spur gear 38 b.Spur gear 38 b meshes with apinion 54 fixed on avertical shaft 56, which constitutes the center axle of a flywheel indicated generally at 50 inFIG. 8 . - Referring to
FIGS. 8 and 10 , theflywheel 50 is an assembly and includes a relatively weighty disk 52 (preferably metal) supported within thehousing 32 for horizontal rotation with thevertical shaft 56 and a protrudingpivot 64 coaxial with shaft 56 (seeFIG. 11 ) extending downwardly from the bottom facing side of thedisk 52. A hemispherical well 33 (FIGS. 2 and 6 ) is provided projecting from the bottom facing side of thebottom housing part 32 b to receive thepivot 64. It also projects through an opening 18 b (seeFIG. 4 ) in the chassis 18 (FIG. 2 ) and serves to secure themotor 30 from lateral movement with respect to thechassis 18. Themotor housing 32 is fixedly attached to the remainder of thevehicle 10 by conventional means such as screws or rivets but may also be immovably fixed by being fitted into a suitable configured compartment between the body and chassis. As seen in variousFIGS. 8 and 10 , a plurality, preferably a diametrically opposed pair ofelements 58 are pivotally mounted to thedisk 52 for generally radial movement with respect to the central axis offlywheel 50 anddisk 52. Eachelement 58 is preferably aweight 58 that include anarcuate arm 58 a, having an inner end that is most proximal to the center of thedisk 52 and that is pivotally secured to thedisk 52 by suitably means such aspin 59. The opposing, outer or free end of eacharm 58 a, distal from thepivot pin 59, supports a further weight in the form of an upward extendingdog 58 b. Thedogs 58 b and thearms 58 a that support them also generally weighty, preferably made of metal, and are generally radially movable with respect to the rotational axis of thedisk 52, which is the central axis ofshaft 56 andpivot 64. Eacharm 58 a is biased radially inwardly towards theshaft 56 by a coil torsion spring hidden in the figures but located beneath eacharm 58 a and engaged at opposing ends with thedisk 52 and thearm 58 a. Eachweight element 58 is configured so that at sufficiently high rotational speeds of thedisk 52, the centrifugal force of eachweight 58 overcomes the bias of its spring and eacharm 58 a pivots radially outwardly against the spring bias to move thedog 58 b radially outwardly from an initial, at rest position maintained by theupper arm 58 a in solidFIG. 10 , where it will be engaged by thehook 42 d of thebent wire member 40, to an extended, more radially outward position (held by the arm marked 58 a′ in phantom in the same figure), where thedog 58 b is located radially outwardly from thehook 42 d to avoid engagement with thehook 42 d. Posts 62 (FIG. 10 ) may be provided extending upwardly at the outer circumferential periphery of thedisk 52 where they might be engaged by thearms 58 a to prevent over-extension of thearms 58 a. Thus, elements/weights 58 are the gyroscopic elements of the clutch varying the moment of inertia of theflywheel 50 with their movement. Thedogs 58 b are stops releasably engaging with thebent wire member 40, which is the clutch actuator. - The
vehicle 10 is operated as follows. Referring toFIG. 12 , thevehicle body 20 is held with thehood 22 inwardly depressed at the front end and thevehicle 10 pushed, preferably repeatedly, across a support surface engaged by at least therear wheels 14 to accelerate rotation of theflywheel disk 52. Thetab 22 a beneath thehood 22 presses against thefront arm 42 a of the bent wire member 42, overcoming the bias ofspring 48 and pivoting thefront arm portion 42 a down, which pivots therear arm portion 42 b upward and thehook 42 d away from the upper side of theflywheel disk 52 and above thedogs 58 b. This permits theflywheel 50 to be accelerated without interference from the bent wire member 42. In this way, the gears andflywheel 50 act like a conventional friction/flywheel motor. When a desirably fast rotation of theflywheel 50 is achieved, thevehicle 10 is released and is propelled along a generally linear path of travel by the continued rotation of theflywheel 50 driving therear wheels 14. As energy is taken from theflywheel 50 to propel thevehicle 10, theflywheel disk 52 looses speed and thearms 58 a, which were outwardly extended by the acceleration, move inward. Thevehicle 10 will continue to move along the path of travel as therear wheels 14 are rotated by therotating flywheel 50 until one of theweight arms 58 a moves sufficiently radially inwardly that itsdog 58 b engages thehook 42 d. This engagement abruptly stops rotation of theflywheel disk 52 and of the rear wheel(s) 14 geared with theflywheel 50 and causes the angular momentum and energy remaining in theflywheel 50 at the time of engagement to be transferred entirely within thevehicle 10 to the remainder of the vehicle 10 (i.e. thechassis 18 and body 20) causing the vehicle to spin briefly in the rotational direction in which theflywheel 50 was rotating when stopped as thevehicle 10 skids to a halt on the path of travel. It will be appreciated that thebent wire member 40, being pivotally fixed in thehousing 32, is itself fixedly connected to thechassis 18 through thehousing 32. Engaging one of thedogs 58 b of theflywheel assembly 50 is the mechanical means by which remaining angular momentum and energy in theflywheel 50 is transferred within the vehicle from theflywheel 50 through thebent wire member 40 to thevehicle 10. The moveable weight elements selectively engageable by thebent wire member 40, which is pivotally secured in thehousing 32, constitute the means for transferring any rotational energy and momentum remaining in theflywheel 50 at engagement bymember 40 to themotor housing 32. - While the invention is disclosed in a preferred embodiment in which the variable inertia flywheel motor used for propulsion, it should be appreciated that it could be incorporated into flywheels in other configurations and orientations and provided for other purposes. For example, instead of springs, elastic or resilient members might be used to bias stops
arms 58 a. Also, instead of the described pivoting cranklever 40, other mechanical arrangements can be provided between thegyroscope 50 and themotor housing 32, like the provision of a spring biased catch supported through the housing opposite thedisk 52 anddogs 58 b with theflywheel 50 at rest. The catch might be raised by a wedge, cam or the like or also by a separate pivotally mounted lever or pivoted away from the disk by the same or similar mechanical members. Furthermore, supportarms 58 astop elements 58 b or equivalent might be mounted of weight members for generally radial movement along slots in or through the disk of the flywheel, biased radially inwardly along the slot by different types of bias members. Also thetoy 10 might additionally be provided with a pull cord for acceleration of the flywheel. Moreover, the invention can be incorporated into a flywheel spun about a transverse horizontal axis that is provided sometimes provided in two wheeled toy vehicles such as bikes and motorcycles to stabilize such vehicles. Depending upon where such flywheel is installed and the direction it is spun, the vehicle can be made to flip end, stop short or perform other stunts. Furthermore, while the preferred embodiment variableinertial flywheel motor 50 disclosed in thetoy vehicle 10 is centered laterally in the vehicle, it need not be so located. Locating a flywheel off center may provide other unusual stunt capabilities and responses. As mentioned initially, this variable inertia flywheel motor may be used in other toys including but not limited to tops, dolls and other figures. - It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes could be made to the embodiments described above without departing from the broad inventive concept thereof. It is understood, therefore, that this invention is not limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, but it is intended to cover modifications within the spirit and scope of the present invention.
Claims (20)
Priority Applications (1)
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US13/833,615 US8926396B2 (en) | 2012-03-16 | 2013-03-15 | Flywheel motor and gyroscopic clutch |
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US201261611794P | 2012-03-16 | 2012-03-16 | |
US13/833,615 US8926396B2 (en) | 2012-03-16 | 2013-03-15 | Flywheel motor and gyroscopic clutch |
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US20130244537A1 true US20130244537A1 (en) | 2013-09-19 |
US8926396B2 US8926396B2 (en) | 2015-01-06 |
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US9578860B2 (en) | 2013-08-23 | 2017-02-28 | Allen Fly Fishing Llc | Fly reel with ratcheting drag system |
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TWI542392B (en) * | 2013-01-28 | 2016-07-21 | Balanced action toys | |
USD813102S1 (en) | 2015-08-13 | 2018-03-20 | Dynacraft Bsc, Inc. | Electric drifting tricycle |
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Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
US8926396B2 (en) | 2015-01-06 |
CN103301636B (en) | 2016-09-07 |
CN103301636A (en) | 2013-09-18 |
EP2638938A1 (en) | 2013-09-18 |
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